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Quantification of facial contamination with blood during orthopaedic procedures
D Collins1, J Rice, P Nicholson
1Department of Orthopaedics, Cork University Hospital, Wilton, Cork, Ireland.
Abstract:
Operative surgery exposes the surgeon to possible blood-borne infections. Risks include pen-etrating injuries and conjunctival contact with infected blood. Visor masks worn during orthopaedic trauma procedures were assessed for blood contamination using computer analysis. This was found to be present on 86% of masks, of which only 15% was recognized by the surgeon intraoperatively. Of the blood splashes 80% were less than 0.6mm in diameter. We conclude that power instrumentation produces a blood particulate mist causing considerable microscopic, facial contamination which is a significant risk to the surgeon.
Insights
Surgeons face significant risk from microscopic blood splashes during orthopedic trauma surgery. Most facial contamination from power instruments goes unrecognized, highlighting a critical safety gap.
Area of Science:
- Surgical Safety
- Occupational Health
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Operative surgery presents risks of blood-borne infections to surgeons.
- Penetrating injuries and conjunctival contact with infected blood are primary concerns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess blood contamination on visor masks during orthopedic trauma procedures.
- To quantify the extent of microscopic facial contamination and surgeon awareness.
Main Methods:
- Computer analysis was used to detect and quantify blood contamination on visor masks.
- The size distribution of blood splashes was analyzed.
Main Results:
- 86% of visor masks showed blood contamination.
- Only 15% of this contamination was recognized by surgeons intraoperatively.
- 80% of blood splashes were smaller than 0.6mm in diameter, forming a particulate mist.
Conclusions:
- Power instrumentation generates a significant microscopic blood particulate mist during surgery.
- This mist causes widespread, often unrecognized, facial contamination, posing a substantial risk to surgeons.